Weather got spring-ish in the Gorge today - Sunny and temps in the hi 50s. Here's a couple of glamour shots:

From our deck this morning - that's Mount Hood south of us at sunup; the white stuff in the lower part of the photo is a layer of clouds that is hanging on top of the Columbia River.

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After lunch I made my first run of the season to the top of Rowena Crest. Here's a picture looking east down the Gorge. The Crest is about 1000' feet above the Columbia. During the Missoula Floods 12,000 years ago it was under water. There were about 100 of the floods - each emptied a lake half the size of Lake Michigan with the water going from Missoula MT to the Pacific via eastern Washington and then the Columbia River.

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Here's part of the road from river-level to the Crest. Climbs about 1000' in a couple of miles. Lots of fun. Road originally built in the late 1920s.

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ANy of y'all coming out to the BMW rally in July should set aside a couple of extra days to play in the Cascades We have some really great roads.

Duncan

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It is better to have ridden and crashed, than to have never ridden at all.

I have been alternating for my winter riding between the BMW K1200LT/Motorvation Formula II rig on the right and the KLR650/Velorex 562 on the left. The Suzuki GS1100GK in the back with the Friendship sidecar is my son's and in for a paint job on the chair.

I went on a short winter ride of about 200 miles on the BMW K1200LT last January, which was relatively mild in Minnesota this year. With the heated grips, heated seat, and great windshield/fairing protection, it is a good winter ride. Except for poor traction with the street tires. But that was remedied by using the black rubber stretchy cords for temporary chains. Someone else suggested using the heavy duty cable ties that are very strong and about 1/2 inch wide. I will try that next.

But my preferred winter ride is the KLR, which I have modified since the photo last month. I added a Madstad oversize windshield, some Moose
ATV handlebar muffs and heated grips. The windshield worked great with good coverage and was adjustable till I had no buffeting. The Moose covers worked so well, I usually rode with bare hands on the heated grips, which were toasty warm down to about zero. I used this rig for most of my commuting and errands all winter.

We had some warm days last week so I thought Spring was springing, but two snows recently, with another on the way next week, means that will probably be delayed until April. In the meantime, I will get some more KLR riding in on the fresh snow.

I have been alternating for my winter riding between the BMW K1200LT/Motorvation Formula II rig on the right and the KLR650/Velorex 562 on the left. The Suzuki GS1100GK in the back with the Friendship sidecar is my son's and in for a paint job on the chair.

Jakhack

Cant see the picture - I have a GS1100GK which i would like to hack and I'm looking for ideas - I also have a KLR650 but that is staying as a olo for now.

Regarding the GS1100GK, the custom subframe and mounting work was done by Lee Bruns in Watertown, South Dakota. Superb job - handles beautifully with light steering effort. I have had 8+ sidecar rigs in the past and think this is one of the finest. I like the older Suzuki shafties, and found the GS1100GK made a great tug. My son has the bike now (was I inebriated or was it a Xmas gift?). I also had an 1980 850G with a mid size Velorex - I forget the model. I went everywhere with that rig - deer hunting, through blizzards and more. Very reliable and comfortable, with a complete Vetter fairing and lowers. But the GS1100GK is really sweet. I would recommend it.